Oh, no! Luke!
It was all so much to bear.
Leia was speechless, the only noises coming from her was her light sniffs and small sobs that escaped her lips. The princess now found It was easier to hold back her tears after having released them freely for the brief time that she did.
So, she decided to hold them back, resolving to let them out at a better time if one would arise. What tears remained on her face fell slowly down her cheeks and fell off her chin as she glanced at Lando who gave her a sincere sympathetic look.
She would have liked to have given him a small faint smile in gratitude in return, but she just couldn't find it in herself to be able to in the state that she was in. It would take too much effort and at the moment she seemed to have forgotten how to smile. Looking down, there was Artoo who was close by her side. She placed a loving hand on the droid, cherishing him and his kindness and concern.
Surveying, Leia seen C-3PO was still laying on the ground unconscious.
Finally, with the threat of being cuffed looming over her head as she heard Vaders footsteps cease, she gave a look of regretful farewell both to the droid and Lando which they both understood, Lando giving her a nod in understanding and adieu and Artoo giving a long sad seemingly goodbye bleep.
Leia turned from her friends in a bit of a daze and began making her way up the steps, her father watching and waiting for her expectantly, motionless until she reached a step near him and they continued walking up the steps together, her following close behind.
Leia's mind filled with thoughts of worry for Luke and Han and her friends.
Poor luke. He's a sitting duck and doesn't know it yet.
Han..he can't even see and he's going to be so worried when he finds out Vader has me...
Once they reached the end of the steps and entered the hall Leia's eyes widened. There was a hoard of Stormtroopers standing before them.
"Do everything as planned." Ordered Vader sternly, pointing a gloved finger at them all. "Remember: Do not harm Skywalker's friends nor Skywalker when he appears. Not a hair on them all is to be touched. Remember, Skywalker is to be taken directly to me. Understood?"
A loud unity of "Understood, Lord Vader!" Was then heard and echoed in the Palace.
"Go." Vader then ordered, causing after his command a stream of stormtroopers to rush past the two on both their sides, going to the steps and down them that the Princess and Vader had just walked out of.
"Where are you taking me?" Leia asked Vader, brows furrowed as stormtroopers still were flooding past them as Vader began walking again, she towing along.
He took more than a few seconds to speak, wondering if he should tell the girl his plans, but realizing she posed no real threats of hindering them from coming to pass he chose to tell her.
"I've ordered men to wait for Luke and some men to take your friends aboard another shuttle other than our own. They'll soon be joining us on our leave to the the Death Star."
"The Death Star?" She asked in disbelief at what she heard, confusion clearly etched on her face.
"The Empire has been working on a new one. It's not yet complete." He explained.
"Oh. I see." Leia seethed, eyes darkening.
Another one of those things. Great.
"And what plans do you have for me and Han and my friends there? More mental torture Lord Vaderto try and get me to reveal rebel plans and bases. Such things as that?" Leia mocked. "What? Wanna relive some ol' heart warming memories we have together Pops, hmm? Tell me, am I getting warm?"
Vader stopped in his tracks at her words, wounded. He turned to her.
His eyes grew big at the unexpected sight. Being so close that he was to her now he was able to see and notice clearly what he hadn't seen before:She had broken blood vessels in her eyes, no doubt to him from Jabba's doing when she had attemped to flee from him. He also managed to see as he had predicted a large purple reddish bruise was starting to form across her neck.
He cringed in sorrow.
"No, Leia. I plan on taking you to the Death star for you to get examined to see if you need to receive medical treatment. Had Jabba fed you well or gave you plenty of water to drink? Enough time to sleep? You need not answer." He replied coolly, deep sadness in his voice despite the sarcastic tone and usage.
Leia flinched.
The days she had spent with Jabba in the Palace had been pure torment. She had become a mockery and what food and water that had been given to her had only been enough to satisfy a small child. What had been given to her had only been meant to be enough to sustain her. And what sleep she got she guessed was a mere four hours a day.
His words reminded her briefly of her stay and it had caused a flash of pain on her face that Vader could see revealed just a taste of just how exactly bad were the evils she had endured during her enslavement.
It made Vader clench his hands into fists in indignation and wish he could bring back to life Jabba and those he had killed only to kill them again, but this time much more slowly and have excruciating torture involved beforehand.
Leia blinked repeatedly, attempting to regain her composure and push away from her heart and mind the raw trauma she had recieved during her stay in the Palace.
"Did he..."
He was more than reluctant to ask, dread was filled in his voice, but all the stormtroopers were all now down the steps, with the short time they had alone together he could ask the question that had been plaguing him since he had found out of her being enslaved.
"Did he.. any of them.. touch you?" His saddened voice finished with difficulty, frowning behind his mask. He dreaded the answer being yes.
Embarrassment flashed briefly over Leia's face and Vader could see vulnerability in it before it and embarrassment quickly disappeared, replaced with her giving him a glare.
"That's none of your business nor concern!" Leia harshly replied. Her arms crossed and she set her gaze on a piece of the dirt ground near by, avoiding eye contact. "Now, if you don't mind I'd like to get a move on." She said gruffly, marching past him.
Vader could sense from the Force just then as she walked by him that she hadn't been touched, besides the Hutt's grotesque tongue touching her face..and relief had washed over him at that, but there was something she was hiding that he felt the Force start to reveal and he spoke it aloud as It did.
"Th-they forcefully stripped you of your clothing in front of Jabba and the others after you unfroze Solo... and they dressed you in that..that ...thing before Jabba." He stated mournfully in agony and outrage as the Force informed him.
Leia pursed her lips and clenched her jaw, swallowing the invisible lump in her throat that had appeared. Her eyes glossed over with tears. She didn't want to answer him and she certainly didn't feel she needed to.
For one she didn't want to waste her breath speaking to the monster. He didn't deserve anything except death, and thus he especially didn't deserve her opening up to him to speak to him about such a sick thing that had happened to her.
Besides, was he any different from that creep, Jabba? Both had caused her trauma that she was sure were to be life long scars for her to carry.
Second, she didnt want to face again what she had only recently just escaped.
Leia turned around.
"Let's get a move on, shall we?" The Princess snapped, eyes boring into him.
Vader felt much sorrow for what his child had endured. He was frustrated that he hadn't been able to stop it from happening and his heart was now pounding in his ears as anger filled him. He wanted to rip out Jabba's tongue and strangle him with it. He wanted to gouge out the worthless slug's eyes.
More anger grew in the Sith Lord so much so that he shook from it, his hand instinctively became a fist and with a loud wrathful grunt he punched hard the near by wall, so hard it made Leia jump.
Vader knew he had damaged his prosthetic hand and would need to have it repaired as he pulled it slowly back, away from the wall and looked at it.
It hurt.
Badly.
Despite the pain his thoughts rested on the girl and Jabba and the others.
No matter now. He's been taken care of. He's dead. They're dead. She's been avenged. He thought, attempting to calm himsef concerning the indecency that had been commited against his daughter. His attempt too cool himself down from his indignation was a failure.
He had no doubt that had he prologued his journey that sooner or later a far worse atrocity would have beem commited against her. He could feel it. It made him clench his teeth, fuming.
Vader started walking again this time speedily and coolly due to the large anger burning inside him and Leia followed, struggling to keep up with the suddenly quick moving Sith with her in comparison short legs.
His reasoning for his speed to himself having been that the sooner they were in their shuttle the sooner it was for them to enter the Death star and for her to be able to remove the filth she was wearing underneath the cloak and possibly manage to find her something decent to wear, if not there then there was the room he had awaiting for her.
Once out the large Palace door Leia saw two imperial shuttles, vader headed for the one on the right and she followed. The suns of Tatooine burned brightly over them both, cause Leia to sweat.
The shuttle's ramp started to decend, beckoning them to enter. Once it touched the ground Vader turned his head to Leia, his body language she could read meant that he wanted her to go in first.
Leia obliged, though noting to herself that it was not as if she had a choice.
As she walked up the ramp the sound of Vader's respirator filled her ears as he followed closely behind.
Once aboard the shuttle leia spotted a few pilots in their seats who gave her a harsh look of distain, but their faces also held a hint of curiousity and interest as she watched them stare at her as she chose to take a near by seat next to the shuttle door as Vader made his way in.
The princess took in a breath, soaking in her surroundings. Everything was so clean, so pristine. Despite being in an enemy's ship she found herself feeling the suprising feeling of safety. She reasoned with herself it being due to the fact she was now sitting in a place quite the opposite of Jabba's palace.
A foul stench hit her nostrils as her brown eyes gave the place a once over. She wondered where it was coming from before it hit her that it was coming from herself. It was her! She smelled like that foul Hutt she was forced to lay against!
She groaned in disgust.
Leia, hear me.
The flash of the memory of Luke's voice before his rescue at Cloud City a year ago had unexpectedly flashed in Leia's mind.
Her breathing hitched.
She had forgotten the experience during her stay in the Palace. She condemned herself at the resurfaced memory. Why hadn't she attempted communication when she had been enslaved?
So foolish. She mentally hissed at herself.
..I guess no use crying over spilled milk..
The idea of attempting to speak to Luke as he had done before to her was already in her thoughts the moment the memory of hearing Luke's voice had appeared in her mind. But, she hesitated to attempt to do so.
If she could reach Luke that would be great, she could warn him and he could flee and get possible help for she and han and their friends..but would Vader be able to tell through the Force what she was doing if she even managed to reach Luke? Or what if he noticed just her attempt to reach Luke?
Was there even a limit in distance to how far she and Luke could communicate with one another?
She gave a cautious glance at Vader who's back was turned to her as he spoke to one of the pilots.
What would he do to her and the others if he found out what she was going to try to do?
It was a risk she had to take.
She closed her eyes, trying to remember that moment Luke's voice spoke to her. It had been so clear and crisp..it was as if his voice had filled the entire universe for her then, not just her mind.
Now how do I do that to him?
She wondered.
Baby steps, Leia.. A warm female maternal voice spoke unto her. It shocked her and she didn't know why, but she trusted it.
Try feeling for him first.
Leia found herself heeding to the voice as if she was possessed. She didn't know what had come over her, it felt like a protective presence stood near her as she felt a coating of a feeling of peace and strength cover her which she assumed was the Force. She had felt that feeling once before and it had been when Luke had spoken to her in her mind.
Her eyes laid closed still as her soul searched for the noble light colored haired young man that she knew on Tattooine.
And there he was.
Her stomach felt like it flipped for joy. Leia was near estatic. She could feel him!
Now, Since she had been able to feel him maybe she could be able to reach him too?
How can I do this?
She pressed her lips hard together in nervousness.
Maybe..maybe I can try speaking to his presence ?..
Here it goes.. She thought hopefully to herself.
Luke.. Can you hear me?
...
Hello? Luke?..please.. answer me...
...
Luke! If you dont answer me I'll kill you myself before the Emperor or Vader gets a chance! She mentally fumed into the dark abyss.
Le-Leia?!
Leia let out a quiet sigh of relief and she held back a large grin.
Luke! It's you! Her voice happily sang.
Leia, I'm on my way there! Don't worry I'll be there shortly, hang on!
No, Luke! Leia quickly ordered, all happiness had left, replaced now with concern.
Don't. Vader knows you're on your way here and he has what I assume men on gaurd waiting for your arrival.
Wait, hang on...Vader?.. What's going on?
Luke..Vader..I dont know how..but he found me and has me.. and not just me..but Han Chewie and Lando and the droids too. Dont come for us Luke. Stay away. Try to get help from the alliance. Form a plan. He-He's taking us to another Death Star.
Leia's voice was sounding weak, even in her ears. Her lids felt heavy. This communicating..she wondered if she was doing it wrong because she found it was draining her of her energy like water through a sieve.
She opened her eyes, still holding on tightly to the link of communication between them both as she looked at her hands. They were trembling terribly. She felt something thick drip from her nose and fall to her lips. She touched it and looked at her finger tips. Blood.
Leia! Leia! Shrieked Luke.
Vader felt a cold breeze from the Force run over his body. It screamed to him something was wrong and it had to do with his daughter. Horrified he swiftly turned around and looked at the girl.
He felt his heart wrench and panic fall on him.
Her eyes were open half lidded and beads of sweat covered her face. Blood was running down her nose and off her chin and unto her cloak as she looked to be peering at the blood on her fingers.
Vader was frozen in place from pure heartache and the desire of wanting so much to believe that what he was seeing wasn't real.
He watched as his dear princess in her seat started to convulse as she sank down on one side from where she sat before falling off her seat with a loud thud, no longer moving.
"LEIA?!" Vader cried out, running towards her, arms stretched out to her.
"Leia?! Are you alright?" Leia?!" Luke's paniced voice screamed into her ears as her world turned black.
